Condenser for pumps



N .AA MM s mi WI R D 2 Sheets-Sheet, 2.

(No Model.)

L. SGHUTTE.

GONDBNSBR POR PUMPS.

Patented July 20, 1897K k /mf/rraf?" you? QM Yue nouns virus ou,nuofcrufno.. wnsumcrmn. o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS SOHUTTE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONDENSER FQR- PUMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letter Application filed April 7, 1897.

To all wle/011e it 111,04/ concern:

Be it known that I, Louis SCHUTTE, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and'useful Improvement inCondensers forPumps, of which the following is a true and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform a part thereof.

My invention relates to the operation and construction of steam-actuatedpumps, having for its object the delivery of water used in condensingthe steam of the engine into the suction-pipe of the pump, andpreferably also the utilization of the water passing through thesuction-pump as a means for condensing the steam. The only seriousdifficulty met with in attempting to utilize the water passing to thepump for condensing the steam or feeding the condensing-water into thesnction-pipe is the danger of permitting vuncondensed steam to enter thepump, an occurrence which would not onl yin most cases stop the entry ofwater through the suction-pipe, but would also injuriously act upon thepiston-packing and be apt to seriously injure the pump. Accordingly, theprincipal feature of my invention consists in the provision of meanswhereby the conduit leading from the exhaust to the suction-pipe of thepump is automatically closed upon the failure of the condensing device,whatever it may be, .to condense the steam; and this, as well as theother more detailed features of my invention, will be best understood asdescribed in connection with the drawings, in which they areillustrated, and in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a pumpprovided with an ordinary air-pump condenser and adapted for utilizingthe water in the suction-pipe of the pump for condensing purposes. Fig.2 is a similar side elevation of a pump equipped with a jet condenser,but with other appliances substantially the same as in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa side elevation of a pump in which the exhaust-conduit leading from thesteam-engine leads the exhauststeam directly to the suction-pipe of thepump, a portion of which is made to serve as a condenser. Fig. 4 is asectional view of an au- .tomaticlalvaadantedfnmuseinclnsing-tha SPatent NO. 586,568, dated July 20, 1897.

Serial No. 631,069. (No model.)

connection between the exhaustand the suction-pipe of the pump. Fig. 5is a view of a similar valve provided with some additional applianceswhich it is advisable to use under certain conditions to be explained;and Fig. G is a view of a valve of the same character as that shown inFig. 5, modified somewhat in its structure, but not its principles ofoperation.

A is a pump-cylinder, B the steam-cylinder, and C the plunger of thepump.

D indicates the suction-conduit through which the water enters thepump-chamber A.

E is the delivery-pipe of the pump.

F is the steam-conduit leading live steam to the engine-cylinder B.

G is the exhaust-steam pipe leading from the engine-cylinder B. ln Figs.l and 2 this exhaust-steam pipe leads into the eondensers, (indicated at.l and .T,) and through these condensers into a conduit M, which in turnleads int-o the suction-pipe l), as indicated at M.

In Fig. the exhaust-steam conduit G connects directly with the conduitM,leading into the suction-pipe D.

l-l in Figs. l, 2, and 215 indicates a valveclosed outlet leading fromthe exhaust-steam pipe G to the outer air or to some convenient point,said outlet being in each case situated between the engine-cylinder Band the valvecasing N, to be hereinafter described.

l, Figs. l and 2, indicate valves whereby the exhaust-steam conduit canbe cut olf from connection with the condensers.

J, Fig. l, indicates an ordinary air-pump condenser which, as shown, isactuated by live steam drawn from the steam-pipe F through a pipe K, gindicating the exhauststeam conduit leading from the condensercylinderinto the exhaust-steam conduit G of the pump-engine cylinder, K' being asteampipe leading from the steam-pipe F to the condenser, and K2 being abranch pipe connectin g with the delivery-pipe E of the pump, wherebywater under pressure can be delivered directly to the condenser throughthe pipe K. This arrangement, it will be obvious, is a convenient onefor starting the tended supply of water through the pipe L is,.azailable. ...irma ,Ww

injector-condenser before its normal and in.

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L, Figs. l and 2, is apipe leading from the suction-pipe D of the pumpat the point L'` and serving as the water-supply pipe of the condensersJ and J', and M is a pipe leading, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, from thecondensers J or J' back to the suction-pipe D, asindicated at M'. Asshown in Fig. 3, M connects directly with the exhaust-steam pipe G andleads to the suction-pipe D and into a portion J2 of the saidsuction-pipe which, for reasons to be explained, must be below theactual level of the top of the suction-pipe.

In Figs. l and 2 I have indicated at Y that in place of connecting thepipe L with the suction-pipe it may be connected with a head of water,which causes the condensingwater to flow into the eondensers by gravity,and I have also indicated in dotted lines at X that instead of beingconnected with the suction-pipe the pipe L may lead to the same sourceof supply that the suction-pipe leads from, but without connect-ing withthe suction-pipe. rIhis lat-ter arrangement would be most available whenthe height to which the water is raised through the pipe D iscomparatively small.

N indicates thc valve-casing of my automatie valve for closing theconnection between the exhaust of the pump-engine and the suction-pipeofthe pump, O in Figs. l and 2 indicating a pipe leading from a point O'in the condenser to the said easing and serving to maintain within aportion of the same, to be hereinafter described, the steamvacun 1n thatexists in the condenser. In Fig. a pipe o serves the same purpose,leading, as shown, from a point in the suction-pipe D at a higher levelthan the point M', where the conduit M enters the suctionpipe.

Q indicates a branch or by-pass extending out from the pipe M andthrough which water or steam can flow when the automatic valve at N isclosed, q indicating the valve situated in the said branch.

R, Fig. l, indicates a regulating device for controlling the tlow ofwater to the condenser.

S, Fig. 3, isfan air-cock by which air can be admitted to the pipe Mwhen desired.

My preferred construction of the automatic valve is illustrated in Figs.et, 5, and 6, in which N indicates the valve-casing having aninlet-passage N', outlet-passage N2, and valveseat- N 3, situatedbetween these passages. There is also formed above the valve-seat N3 apiston-cham ber N4, which communicates by a pipe O or, as shown in Fig.3, 0, with the condenser. N 5 is the valve whieh,when seated at N3,closes the conduit. Attached to this valve is a piston N, fitting andworkin g in the cylinder N4, and by means of shoulders N7 and N8 thebalance of the valve,with regard to pressure entering the valve-chamberN, is adj usted to the desired extent, which, as those skilled in theart will understand, will vary somewhat under different conditions. Thetit between the piston N6 and the cylinder N4 tion-pipe.

is preferably not a tight one, but loose enough to permit some escape ofwater or steam between the piston and cylinder, and to furtherfacilitate the entry of water or steam into the piston-chamber N4, Iprefer to form a small orifice, as indicated at N 9, through the pistonN6 or its extension.

Vithout further describing for the present the additional appliancesshown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, it will be obvious that theopening and closing of the valve N5 will, in'each of the arrangementsshown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, be dependent upon the vacuuln communicatedto the chamber N4 through the pipe O or o. Thus when the condenser-s Jor J' are working efficiently and with their normal vacuum the valve N 5will be drawn up and the water will pass into the pipe M, whichconstitutes what is in ordinary condeusers called the waste-water pipe,though by my varrangement the water no longer goes to waste, but is fedinto the suction-pipe ofthe pump. When, on the other hand, thecondensers J or J cease to work properly and the vacuum within themfalls, the valve N5 will close, preventing the escape of steam into thepipe M and through it into the suction-pipe of the pump. In this casethe waste water and steam may open the valve q and escape through thepipe Q, or the exhaust-steam may escape through the pipe indicated atII.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 the normal vacuum communicatedthrough the pipe o to the cylinder N4 will be that due to the differencein elevation of the point o with which the vacuum-pipe 0 communicateswith the suction-pipe and the point M' at which the pipe M communicateswith the suction-pipe, the part J2 of the suction-pipe serving as acondenser. The apparatus will obviously work efficiently so long as thesteam is properly condensed on entering the suc- If, however, thecondensation ot the steam is not perfect, there will immediately be adrop of the water in the suctionpipe D below the point M', whereupon thepressure transmitted through pipe o and that existing in pipe M will beequal and the valve N5 will immediately close.

Vhile referring to the construction shown in Fig. 3 it will be seen thatwhen the pump is stopped the condensation of the steam in the pipe M mayvery well result in the said pipe being filled with water up to thelevel of the valve-casing N, which, the pump being again started, wouldresult in an abnormal downward pull tending to hold the valve N5 to itsseat. To avoid this, I provide the aircock S, by which under theconditions mentioned air may be admitted to the pipe M, permitting thewater-level to fall to the level of the point M'.

The construction of the automatic valve, as illustrated in Fig. t andabove described, will in most cases be entirely efficient. Where,however, the pump-suction isv very high, it nn. ,este times 'Tceed thevacuum in the c611- IIO denser, a difficulty which could be providedagainst by a special balance of the valve, but which, as it is desirablethat these valves should be made in quantity and for use on pumpsdiderently situated, I prefer to obviate in the manner shown in Figs. 5and G-that is to say, by providing in or in connection with the casing Nan additional pistoncham ber N10, having a portion N11 open to theatmosphere preferably through a water-trap pipe N12. The turned-up endN13 of this pipe I prefer to make open at the top and to lead into awater-pipe N15, a lspout N11 being provided for the water to run out of.In the cylinder N10, I place a piston N10, which by a rod or stem N17 isconnected with the valve N5. It is immaterial in what physical positionwith reference to the valve N5 the cylinder N10 maybe placed. It may beabove the valve, as shown in Fig. 5, or below it, as shown in Fig. (5,but in all cases provision must be made for a connection betweenthe'delivery side N2 ot' the valve-casing N and the cylinder N10 and insuch a way that the suction exerted by the column of water in thesuction-pipe of the pump shall act upon the piston N10 in the oppositedirection to that in which it acts upon the valve N5. It will be obviousthat by such a balancing piston as N10 the net result or eiect of thesuction in the suction-pipe of the pump upon the valve N5 may be made aslittle as desired. f

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a pump actuated by a steam-engine'and havin g asuction-pipe, a conduit leading from the steam-exhaust ot thesteam-engine to the suction-pipe, avalve situated in s aid cond uit,acondenser` arranged to utilize the water passing through thesuction-pipe and means for actuating the'valve aforesaid controlled bythe vacuum in said condenser, all substantially as specified, and so asto close the valve when the vacuum in the condenser falls below adetermined point.

f3. In combination with a pump actuated by a steam-engine and having asuctionpipe, a condenser connected to the exhaust of the steam-engine, awaste-water conduit leading from the condenser to the suction-pipe ofthe pump, a valve situated in said waste-water conduit and means foractuating said valve controlled bythe vacuum in the condenser,substantially as specified.

3. In combination with a pump actuated by a steam-en gine and havingasuction-pipe, a condenser connected to the exhaust of the steam-engine,a water-supply pipe leading from the suction-pipe to the condenser, awaste-water conduit leading from the condenser to the suction-pipe ofthe pump, a valve situated in said waste-water conduit and means foractuating said valve c011- trolled by the vacuum in the condensersubstantially as specified. Y

4. In combination with a pump actuated by a steam-engine and having asuction-pipe,

a condenser connected to the exhaust of the steam-engine, a waste-waterconduit leading from the condenser to the suction-pipe of the pump andhaving a branch as Q, a valve situated in said waste-water conduit,means for actuating said valve controlled by the vacuum in the condenserand a valve as q situated in branch Q, substantially as specitied.

5. In combination with a pump actuated l,

by a steam-engine and having a suction-pipe,lj a conduit leading tromthe steam-exhaust o said engine to the suction-pipe, a condenserarranged to utilize the water passing through the suction-pipe, avalve-casing N interposed in the conduit leading from the exhaust andembracing the valve-seatN3 and cylinder N1, a valve N5 situated incasing N and having attached to it a piston N0 working in cylinder N1and a pipe connecting cylinder N4 and' the condenser whereby the vacuumin the condenser will be maintained in said cylinder.

G. In combination with a pump actuated by a steam-en gine and having asuction-pipe, a conduit leading from the steam-exhaust of said engine tothe suction-pipe, a condenser arranged to utilize the water passingthrough the suction-pipe, avalve-casing N interposed in the conduitleading from the exhaust and embracing the valve-seat N3, cylinder N4and cylinder N10, a valve N5 situated in casing N and having attached toit a piston N0 working in cylinder N1 and a piston N10, a pipeconnecting lcylinder N1 and the condenser whereby t-he vacuum in thecondenser will be maintained in said cylinder and a pipe N12 connectingcylinder N10 with the outer air.

7. In combination with a pump actuated by a steam-en gine and having asuction-pipe, a conduit leading from the steam-exhaust of said engine tothe suction-pipe, a condenser arranged to utilize the water passingthrough the suction-pipe, a valve-casing N interposed in the conduitleading from the exhaust and embracing the valve-seat N3, cylinder N4,and cylinder N10, a valve N5 situated in easing N and having attached toit a piston N6 working in cylinder N1, and a piston N10 working incylinder N10, a pipe connecting cylinder NA1 and the condenser wherebythe Vacuum in the condenser will be maintained in said cylinder and apipe N12 connecting cylinder N10 with the outer air and having a waterseal.

LOUIS SCHUTTE.

Witnesses:

CHARLES F. ZIEGLER, D. STEWART.

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